Mikel Obi: Haaland must step up in big matches to reach Messi’s level

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has shared insights on how Erling Haaland could elevate his status to be on par with Lionel Messi.

While acknowledging Haaland’s exceptional goal-scoring ability, Obi pointed out that the Norwegian striker often falls short in crucial matches.

Haaland, considered one of the top players in Europe since his emergence, won the Golden Boot in the Premier League last season and helped Manchester City secure a historic treble, including their first Champions League title.

Despite his impressive tally of nine goals in the opening four matches of the current season, he faced criticism for not scoring in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Speaking as a pundit during Bein Sports’ coverage, Obi emphasized the importance of performing in high-stakes games.

“Right now, he hasn’t. We can agree on that. He scored so many goals, but in the big games, I want to see him do that again on Sunday when they play Arsenal,” he stated.

Obi urged Haaland to showcase his talent in key fixtures, noting, “I want to see him show up in big games and be the man who scores one or two hat tricks, whatever it is.”

He acknowledged improvements in Haaland’s overall play compared to last season but reiterated the need for him to deliver in critical moments, just as Messi has done throughout his career.